A Peek into the Bedroom: What Toddlers Take to Bed

All toddlers need comfort things – ‘lovies’ we call them – something to hold onto and talk to and love until they fall asleep. We had two girls before our boy; both had stuffed animals as lovies, Bromley the Bear and Ellie the Elephant, respectively. His lovies seemed so much more unusual then the girls’ that it prompted me to take a quick survey and share the results with you. Names have been changed to protect the innocent.

All toddlers need comfort things – ‘lovies’ we call them – something to hold onto and talk to and love until they fall asleep. We had two girls before our boy; both had stuffed animals as lovies, Bromley the Bear and Ellie the Elephant, respectively. His lovies seemed so much more unusual then the girls’ that it prompted me to take a quick survey and share the results with you. Names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Let’s start with what is considered the usual lovie – stuffed animals, blankets, and pacifiers. Not at all unusual to need two pacifiers even, one for the hand and one for the mouth, as little Sara prefers.

Isaac also enjoys two pacifiers, one for his mouth and the other for his – eye! Mom says he tries to stick it in his eye until he falls asleep – funny.

Some children prefer the feel of mommy or daddy’s skin and will stroke their arm or face, but Max can only fall asleep rubbing his mommy’s ear – sweet.

Now, for the slightly unusual, Brennan insists on taking his mom’s nursing bra to bed. He obviously has good times associated with that piece of clothing, and understandably so. Mom says he plays with the latches until he falls asleep. Only then can she pry it out of his sleeping hands.

Little Connor gives the term “bedtime snack” a whole new meaning. He likes to take food to bed, making it necessary to change the sheets often. Mom says his favorite foods to fall asleep with are chips or cheese. Thankfully, he sets it aside right before shutting his eyes. The interesting fact about Connor is that the whole “bedtime snack” lovie may be inherited as his uncle used to take bananas or granola to bed with him – messy!

Which brings us back to our little man. At one, he has amused us with his favorite lovies and brought us many nighttime smiles. He has favorite pajamas that he can’t wait to put on – his vivid blue and red striped Hanna Anderssons or flannel electric guitars. His current lovies are not soft, or small, or warm, or what his Mom thinks they should be, but two metal Beetle Bugs (you know, Volkswagens) – a 5” black one and a 3” red one – one for each hand or a cold damp baby washcloth that he insists on wearing on his head twenty minutes before getting into bed – nice. I am not complaining because he cuddles with me while holding onto his lovies, maybe I am just too soft or too warm for him.  I am not sweating it though… but I am beginning to think it’s a boy thing.

Sweet Dreams.

Jenna Borum is a wife first, homeschooling SAHM to three fabulous children second and caretaker to many lovies third.

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